So you're a backbench MP. You see a cuddly early day motion praising a group that sends much-needed Christmas presents to deprived children abroad. Do you sign it? Well, of course. Do you check the group out first? Well, probably not. So let's not be too hard on Timothy Farron, Ming's principal private secretary, who put down an EDM last week endorsing the work of Operation Christmas Child's shoebox appeal. Or MPs such as the rightwing Tory Andrew Rosindell, who put his name to it. How could they know that the charity's leading light and founder Franklin Graham prompted controversy both here and in the US by describing Islam as a "wicked and evil religion"? It's on Google. But apart from that, it might as well be a secret. Contacted yesterday, Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock, one of the signatories, wrote to the table office asking for his name to be removed from the EDM. Mr Farron said that while he deplored Mr Graham's remarks, the charity's good works seemed more important. Mr Rosindell also supported the charity's work but said he could not be expected to check the bona fides of every group he endorsed in an EDM. So much to do. So little time.

· When the chips are down you need a barrister like Paul Walker, who last week was all that stood between DVD seller Zhong Li - a purveyor of what one might call exotic hardcore entertainment - and a lengthy spell in jail. Mr Walker told Inner London crown court that the prosecution could be equated with the famous Lady Chatterley trial, in that the material was so disgusting that it could not possibly deprave. And in their own way, the jury agreed. For after watching six minutes of ground-breaking action, one left the room to be sick and the others - outraged and traumatised - sent a note to the judge seeking permission to stop the screening. Mr Li was jailed for four years, and on release will be deported back to China. But we say the resourceful Mr Walker will go on to better things.

· As will the official at the Pakistani Embassy in London responsible for a briefing note informing her colleagues that the heir to the throne, who is in Islamabad, should be formally addressed as the "Prince of Charles". This reminds us of the occasion when the mayor of London was being feted at a splendidly upmarket gathering. After an interminable introduction, he was formally introduced by the obsequious but tabloid-fixated host as "our dear friend Mr Redken Livingstone". Mind you, he has been called much worse since.

· We see worrying signs that our friends in the British National party have not really embraced the legal process. In August the party announced that come the revolution, Denis MacShane, the former Foreign Office minister, should expect to be tried for treason. Last week, as the MP left the count after a byelection (which the BNP lost), the local organiser Nick Cass revealed that work on the party's fantasy hit list is moving apace. "It's a long struggle, Denis, but we will see you on the gallows yet," he said, proving that there will be no need for trials in the brave new world. But there will be hair-raising stuff to watch on the telly.

· Worry too for David "Two Brains" Willetts, the shadow education secretary, who may not quite have understood the subtle nature of his leader's subtle tack to the left. On a trip to Beijing last week he was to be found at the Great Wall wearing a Mao hat and other cultural-revolution memorabilia purchased from trinket stalls. Later, he was the star of a karaoke session at Beijing's Cash Box KTV centre, where he belted out a spirited if tuneless version of A Hard Day's Night. Cameron knows his people have to unwind. But if Willetts is smart he'll blame jet lag.

· Wouldn't you have liked to see the Times lead its front page yesterday with something about the Stern report on climate change rather than another piece about house prices? It would have been proof that a great newspaper recognised the great issue of the day. It would also have sat well below the front-page promotion offering "A flight to Europe for every reader". What the marketing types call synergy.